JP2016188115A - Conveyance device, image recording apparatus and conveyance method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyance device, an image recording apparatus and a conveyance method which can attenuate meandering of a recording medium on the upstream side or downstream side in the conveyance direction of a correction mechanism.SOLUTION: A conveyance device included in an image recording apparatus 1 comprises a correction mechanism 30, a detection unit 40 and a meandering attenuation unit 50. The detection unit 40 detects the position in the width direction of a long belt-like print sheet 9. The correction mechanism 30 corrects the position in the width direction of the print sheet 9 on the basis of the detection result of the detection unit 40. The meandering attenuation unit 50 is arranged on the upstream side in the conveyance direction or downstream side in the conveyance direction of the correction mechanism 30. The meandering attenuation unit 50 has a plurality of attenuation rollers 51 rotating while being in contact with the print sheet 9. When the print sheet 9 passes through the plurality of attenuation rollers 51, meandering of the print sheet 9 is attenuated due to friction between the attenuation rollers 51 and the print sheet 9. With this, meandering surpassing the correction capacity of the correction mechanism 30 and meandering newly occurring in the correction mechanism 30 can be attenuated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that transports a long strip-shaped recording medium in the longitudinal direction, an image recording apparatus that includes the transport device, and a transport method that transports a long strip-shaped recording medium in the longitudinal direction.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an ink jet type image recording apparatus that records an image on a printing paper by ejecting ink from a plurality of recording heads while conveying the long belt-like printing paper in the longitudinal direction. This type of image recording apparatus has a correction mechanism for correcting the position in the width direction of the printing paper in order to suppress meandering of the printing paper.

  A conventional image recording apparatus having a correction mechanism is described in Patent Document 1, for example. The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has an EPC (registered trademark) (Edge Position Control) for controlling the meandering of the paper and a meandering amount detector used for meandering amount feedback (paragraph 0019, FIG. 1).

JP 2014-34205 A

  In this type of image recording apparatus, for example, an edge sensor that detects the position of the edge of the printing paper is used as the meandering amount detector. However, a long belt-like printing paper is generally obtained by cutting a desired width with a rotating cutter while conveying a wide belt-like base paper. For this reason, the shape of the edge of the printing paper itself may have a periodic undulation corresponding to the rotation period of the cutter. In that case, the edge sensor detects not only the positional deviation in the overall width direction of the printing paper but also the periodic waviness of the edge shape, and performs unnecessary correction accordingly. In this case, the corrected printing paper meanders at a frequency corresponding to the undulation of the edge.

  Further, the printing paper conveyed in the image recording apparatus may have a large meander that exceeds the correction capability of the correction mechanism. In that case, the correction mechanism cannot sufficiently remove the meandering of the printing paper, and the meandering remains on the corrected printing paper. If meandering remains on the printing paper below the recording head, the position of the ink ejected from the recording head on the printing paper will deviate from the desired position, causing a reduction in image quality.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a transport apparatus, an image recording apparatus, and a transport method that can attenuate meandering of a recording medium on the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction of a correction mechanism. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a first invention of the present application is a transport device for transporting a long strip-shaped recording medium in a longitudinal direction, the detecting unit detecting a position in the width direction of the recording medium, and the detecting unit A correction mechanism for correcting the position in the width direction of the recording medium based on the detection result of the recording medium, and meandering attenuation for attenuating periodic meandering of the recording medium on the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction of the correction mechanism And the meandering attenuation section has a plurality of attenuation rollers that rotate while contacting the recording medium.

  2nd invention of this application is a conveying apparatus of 1st invention, Comprising: The said meandering attenuation | damping part is arrange | positioned in the conveyance direction downstream of the said correction mechanism.

  3rd invention of this application is a conveying apparatus of 1st invention, Comprising: The said meandering attenuation | damping part is arrange | positioned in the conveyance direction upstream of the said correction mechanism.

  A fourth invention of the present application is the transport device according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the plurality of damping rollers are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the transport path of the recording medium. Yes.

  A fifth invention of the present application is the transport device according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, wherein the transport direction of the recording medium is switched by about 180 ° in each of the plurality of damping rollers.

  A sixth invention of the present application is the conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the correction mechanism includes a stationary roller that rotates at a fixed position, a guide roller that moves in the width direction, and The interval between the plurality of attenuation rollers in the meandering attenuation portion is larger than the interval between the stationary roller and the guide roller in the correction mechanism.

  7th invention of this application is a conveying apparatus of any one invention from 1st invention to 6th invention, Comprising: The said meandering attenuation | damping part has four or more said attenuation | damping rollers.

  An eighth invention of the present application is the transport device according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, wherein the plurality of damping rollers include one or more first damping rollers arranged at fixed positions, And one or more second damping rollers capable of changing the distance from the first roller.

  A ninth invention of the present application is an image recording apparatus, wherein the recording device records an image on the surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying device according to any one of the first to eighth inventions and the conveying device. And a head.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is the image recording apparatus according to the ninth aspect, wherein the correction mechanism and the meandering attenuation portion are arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction from the recording head.

  An eleventh invention of the present application is a transport method for transporting a long strip-shaped recording medium in the longitudinal direction, wherein a) a step of detecting a position in the width direction of the recording medium, and b) a detection result of the step a). And a step of attenuating periodic meandering of the recording medium on the upstream side in the transport direction or the downstream side in the transport direction of the correction position. In step c), the plurality of damping rollers are rotated while being in contact with the recording medium.

  According to the first to tenth aspects of the present invention, the meandering of the recording medium can be attenuated by passing the plurality of attenuation rollers of the meandering attenuation unit.

  In particular, according to the second invention of the present application, the meandering of the recording medium newly generated in the correction mechanism can be attenuated at the meandering attenuation portion on the downstream side in the transport direction.

  In particular, according to the third invention of the present application, even when the recording medium has meandering that exceeds the compensation capability of the compensation mechanism, the meander can be attenuated upstream of the compensation mechanism. As a result, the correction mechanism can correct the meandering of the recording medium to be within an allowable range.

  In particular, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the meandering attenuation rate in the meandering attenuation portion can be arbitrarily set by making the intervals between the plurality of attenuation rollers constant and adjusting the number thereof.

  In particular, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the contact area of the recording medium with respect to each damping roller can be increased. Thereby, the effect of attenuating the meandering of the recording medium can be further enhanced.

  In particular, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the effect of attenuating meandering can be further enhanced by widening the interval between the attenuating rollers in the meandering attenuating portion.

  In particular, according to the seventh invention of the present application, the effect of damping the meandering can be further enhanced by increasing the number of the damping rollers in the meandering damping part.

  In particular, according to the eighth invention of the present application, the meandering attenuation rate in the meandering attenuation portion can be arbitrarily set by adjusting the interval between the attenuation rollers.

  In particular, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, meandering of the recording medium is attenuated on the upstream side in the transport direction from the recording head. Thereby, the image quality in the image recording apparatus can be improved.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, meandering of the recording medium can be attenuated by passing a plurality of attenuation rollers in step c).

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a perspective view of the correction mechanism concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the edge sensor which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of a control system concerning a 1st embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the correction | amendment mechanism and meandering attenuation | damping part which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the meander correction | amendment in the correction | amendment mechanism and meander attenuation part which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is the graph which showed the meandering attenuation effect of the printing paper by a some roller. It is the figure which showed the structure of the meandering attenuation | damping part and correction mechanism which concern on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the meander correction | amendment in the meander attenuation | damping part and correction mechanism which concern on 2nd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the correction | amendment mechanism and meandering attenuation | damping part which concern on a modification.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<1. First Embodiment>
<1-1. Configuration of Image Recording Device>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image recording apparatus 1 discharges ink from a plurality of recording heads 21 to 24 toward the printing paper 9 while transporting the printing paper 9 that is a long strip-shaped recording medium, thereby forming a color image on the printing paper 9. Is an ink jet printing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus 1 includes a transport mechanism 10, an image recording unit 20, a correction mechanism 30, an edge sensor 40, a meandering attenuation unit 50, and a control unit 60.

  In the present embodiment, the transport mechanism 10, the correction mechanism 30, the edge sensor 40, and the meandering attenuation unit 50 constitute a transport device that transports the printing paper 9 while suppressing the meandering of the printing paper 9.

  The transport mechanism 10 is a mechanism that transports the printing paper 9 in the transport direction along the longitudinal direction thereof. The transport mechanism 10 according to the present embodiment includes an unwinding unit 11, a plurality of transport rollers 12, and a winding unit 13. The printing paper 9 is fed out from the unwinding unit 11 and conveyed along a conveyance path constituted by a plurality of conveyance rollers 12. Each transport roller 12 guides the printing paper 9 to the downstream side of the transport path by rotating about the horizontal axis. Further, the printed printing paper 9 is collected to the winding unit 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing paper 9 moves below the image recording unit 20 in substantially parallel to the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording heads 21 to 24. At this time, the recording surface of the printing paper 9 is directed upward (the recording heads 21 to 24 side). Further, the printing paper 9 is wound around a plurality of transport rollers 12 in a state where tension is applied. Thereby, slack and wrinkles of the printing paper 9 during conveyance are suppressed.

  The image recording unit 20 ejects ink droplets (hereinafter referred to as “ink droplets”) onto the printing paper 9 conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 10. The image recording unit 20 of the present embodiment includes a first recording head 21, a second recording head 22, a third recording head 23, and a fourth recording head 24. The first recording head 21, the second recording head 22, the third recording head 23, and the fourth recording head 24 are arranged at equal intervals along the transport path of the printing paper 9. A plurality of nozzles arranged in parallel with the width direction of the printing paper 9 (horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction) are provided on the lower surfaces of the recording heads 21 to 24. Each of the recording heads 21 to 24 has a color component of K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) as color components of a color image from a plurality of nozzles toward the upper surface of the printing paper 9. Each ink droplet is ejected.

  The four recording heads 21 to 24 each record a monochrome image on the upper surface of the printing paper 9 by ejecting ink droplets. A color image is formed on the upper surface of the printing paper 9 by superimposing the four monochrome images. When the printing paper 9 is meandering, the positions of the ink droplets ejected from the four recording heads 21 to 24 in the width direction on the printing paper 9 are shifted from each other, and the image quality of the printed matter is deteriorated. It is an important factor for improving the printing quality of the image recording apparatus 1 to suppress the mutual positional deviation (so-called “register deviation”) of the monochromatic images on the printing paper 9 within an allowable range.

  In addition, a drying processing unit that dries the ink attached to the recording surface of the printing paper 9 may be further provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording heads 21 to 24. For the drying processing unit, for example, a mechanism for bringing the printing paper 9 into contact with a heated roller and a mechanism for blowing heated gas onto the printing paper 9 are used. When the ink is photocurable, a mechanism for irradiating light may be used as the drying processing unit.

  The correction mechanism 30 is a mechanism for correcting the position of the printing paper 9 in the width direction. In the present embodiment, the correction mechanism 30 is disposed at a correction position upstream of the image recording unit 20 in the conveyance direction. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the correction mechanism 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the correction mechanism 30 of the present embodiment includes a pair of stationary rollers 31 and a pair of guide rollers 32. The pair of stationary rollers 31 rotate around a horizontal axis at a fixed position.

  The printing paper 9 passes through the upstream stationary roller 31 and then passes through the upstream guide roller 32, whereby the transport direction is switched by 90 degrees. Thereafter, the printing paper 9 passes through the downstream guide roller 32, so that the conveyance direction is further switched by 90 degrees, and then passes through the downstream stationary roller 31. As shown in FIG. 1, the pair of guide rollers 32 is connected to a swing mechanism 33 (not shown in FIG. 2). When the swing mechanism 33 is operated, the pair of guide rollers 32 swings in the width direction around the pivot 34 located near the center of the upstream guide roller 32.

  The edge sensor 40 is a detection unit that detects the position of the printing paper 9 in the width direction. The edge sensor 40 is disposed between the downstream guide roller 32 and the downstream stationary roller 31 in the correction mechanism 30. However, the edge sensor 40 may be provided at another position in the correction mechanism 30, or may be provided on a transport path upstream of the correction mechanism 30 in the transport direction or downstream of the transport direction. Good. When the position in the width direction of the printing paper 9 is shifted from the standard position, the position of the edge 91 of the printing paper 9 with respect to the edge sensor 40 changes. The edge sensor 40 detects the positional deviation amount of the printing paper 9 in the width direction by detecting the position of the edge 91.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the edge sensor 40. The edge sensor 40 shown in FIG. 3 includes a projector 41 positioned above the edge 91 of the printing paper 9 and a line sensor 42 positioned below the edge 91. The light projector 41 irradiates parallel light downward. The line sensor 42 includes a plurality of light receiving elements 421 arranged in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 3, outside the edge 91 of the printing paper 9, the light emitted from the projector 41 enters the light receiving element 421, and the light receiving element 421 detects the light. On the other hand, inside the edge 91, the light emitted from the projector 41 is blocked by the printing paper 9, so that the light receiving element 421 does not detect the light. The edge sensor 40 detects the position of the edge 91 of the printing paper 9 based on the presence or absence of light detection in the plurality of light receiving elements 421.

  The control unit 60 operates the swing mechanism 321 based on the detection result of the edge sensor 40. Thereby, the position in the width direction of the printing paper 9 is corrected so as to approach the standard position. The structure of the correction mechanism 30 is not limited to the example of FIG. For example, the printing paper 9 may be displaced in the width direction by moving the roller in the width direction. Further, the detection method of the edge sensor 40 is not limited to the example of FIG. For example, as the edge sensor 40, a reflective optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a contact sensor, or the like may be used. The detection unit of the present invention may be a sensor that detects a portion other than the edge of the printing paper 9. For example, a mark provided on the upper surface of the printing paper 9 or a fiber flow of the printing paper 9 itself may be read by a high-definition camera.

  The meandering attenuation unit 50 is a mechanism for attenuating periodic meandering of the printing paper 9. In the present embodiment, the meandering attenuation unit 50 is disposed downstream of the correction mechanism 30 in the transport direction and upstream of the image recording unit 20 in the transport direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the meandering attenuation unit 50 includes a plurality of attenuation rollers 51. When the printing paper 9 passes through the plurality of attenuation rollers 51, the meandering component of the printing paper 9 having a specific frequency is attenuated by the friction between the printing paper 9 and the attenuation rollers 51. A more detailed configuration of the meandering attenuation unit 50 will be described later.

  The control unit 60 is means for controlling the operation of each unit in the image recording apparatus 1. As conceptually shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 60 is configured by a computer having an arithmetic processing unit 61 such as a CPU, a memory 62 such as a RAM, and a storage unit 63 such as a hard disk drive. In the storage unit 63, a computer program 631 for executing printing processing while correcting meandering of the printing paper 9 is installed.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a connection configuration between the control unit 60 and each unit in the image recording apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 60 is electrically connected to the transport mechanism 10, the four recording heads 21 to 24, the swing mechanism 33, and the edge sensor 40 described above. The control unit 60 temporarily reads out the computer program 631 stored in the storage unit 63 to the memory 62, and the arithmetic processing unit 61 performs arithmetic processing based on the computer program 631, thereby controlling the operation of each unit described above. To do. Thereby, the printing process in the image recording apparatus 1 proceeds.

<1-2. Detailed configuration of meandering attenuation section>
Next, a more detailed configuration of the meandering attenuation unit 50 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the correction mechanism 30 and the meandering attenuation unit 50. As indicated by arrows in FIG. 5, hereinafter, the conveyance direction of the printing paper 9 before and after the meandering attenuation unit 50 is referred to as “main conveyance direction”. A direction orthogonal to the main transport direction and the width direction of the printing paper 9 is referred to as a “sub transport direction”. The meandering attenuator 50 reciprocates the printing paper 9 that has passed through the correction mechanism 30 and is conveyed in the main conveyance direction a plurality of times in the sub conveyance direction, and then conveys the printing paper 9 again in the main conveyance direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the meandering attenuation unit 50 of the present embodiment includes a plurality (five in the example of FIG. 5) of attenuation rollers 51. Each of the plurality of damping rollers 51 is a cylindrical roller disposed along the width direction of the printing paper 9. When the printing paper 9 is conveyed, each damping roller 51 is driven to rotate about the horizontal axis while being in contact with the printing paper 9.

  The plurality of attenuation rollers 51 of the meandering attenuation unit 50 include one or more (three in the example of FIG. 5) first attenuation rollers 51a disposed in the first position P1 in the sub-transport direction and the first attenuation roller 51a in the sub-transport direction. It includes one or more (two in the example of FIG. 5) second damping rollers 51b arranged at a second position P2 different from the position P1. The printing paper 9 is alternately wound around the first damping roller 51a and the second damping roller 51b. Accordingly, the printing paper 9 reciprocates at least once between the first position P1 and the second position P2 in the sub-transport direction.

  As described above, when the printing paper 9 passes through the plurality of attenuation rollers 51, the meandering of the printing paper 9 is attenuated by the friction between the attenuation rollers 51 and the printing paper 9. The frequency and attenuation rate of the meandering to be attenuated vary depending on the distance d1 between the attenuation rollers 51, the number of the attenuation rollers 51, the conveyance speed of the printing paper 9, and the like, but particularly high-frequency meandering components can be removed with a high attenuation rate. it can. That is, the meandering attenuating unit 50 constituted by a plurality of the attenuating rollers 51 has a function of a low-pass filter for meandering of the printing paper 9.

  In the present embodiment, the meandering attenuation unit 50 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the correction mechanism 30. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of meander correction performed on the printing paper 9 in the correction mechanism 30 and the meander attenuation unit 50. In the present embodiment, the printing paper 9 fed out from the unwinding unit 11 is first sent to the correction mechanism 30. The edge sensor 40 always detects the position in the width direction of the printing paper 9 sent to the correction mechanism 30 (step S11). The correction mechanism 30 swings the guide roller 32 based on the detection result from the edge sensor 40. Thereby, the position of the printing paper 9 in the width direction is corrected (step S12).

  At this time, if the edge shape of the printing paper 9 has periodic undulations, the edge sensor 40 not only detects the overall displacement of the printing paper 9 in the width direction but also changes the edge shape of the printing paper 9 periodically. Also detect. For this reason, in step S12, the correction mechanism 30 gives an extra displacement in the width direction to the printing paper 9. As a result, new meandering occurs on the printing paper 9. The new meander has a frequency corresponding to the period of the edge shape of the printing paper 9.

  The printing paper 9 that has passed through the correction mechanism 30 is subsequently sent to the meandering attenuation unit 50. In the meandering attenuation unit 50, the printing paper 9 reciprocates in the sub-conveying direction while being in contact with the plurality of attenuation rollers 51. Thereby, the meandering of the printing paper 9 newly generated in step S12 is attenuated (step S13). The frequency of newly generated meandering is often higher than the meandering frequency that the correction mechanism 30 normally corrects. Therefore, the new meandering can be effectively attenuated in the meandering attenuating unit 50 having a low-pass filter property.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the result of an approximate calculation using a transfer function to show how much the meandering of the printing paper 9 is attenuated when passing through a plurality of rollers. The horizontal axis in FIG. 7 indicates the interval between the plurality of rollers. The vertical axis in FIG. 7 indicates how much of the meandering component having a specific frequency remains (residual rate) after the printing paper 9 passes through a plurality of rollers. In addition, a plurality of curves in FIG. 7 indicate the results at different numbers of rollers. As shown in FIG. 7, as the number of rollers increases and the interval between the rollers increases, the residual ratio of the meandering component decreases. Thus, if the number and interval of the rollers are appropriately set, the meandering component having a desired frequency can be attenuated to a desired ratio.

  The undulation of the edge shape of the printing paper 9 corresponds to the rotation cycle of the cutter when the printing paper 9 is cut. For this reason, the meandering frequency resulting from the edge shape of the printing paper 9 can be estimated in advance. If the number and interval of the attenuating rollers 51 are set so as to attenuate the meandering of the frequency with a high attenuation rate, the meandering of the printing paper 9 newly generated in the correction mechanism 30 can be effectively attenuated. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the plurality of attenuation rollers 51 are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the conveyance path of the printing paper 9. In this way, when the plurality of attenuation rollers 51 are arranged at a constant interval, the attenuation rate of the meandering changes according to the number of attenuation rollers 51. Accordingly, it is easy to adjust the number of the attenuation rollers 51 and set the meandering attenuation rate to a desired value.

  In the present embodiment, the direction of conveyance of the printing paper 9 is switched by about 180 ° in each of the plurality of attenuation rollers 51. In this way, the size of the meandering attenuation portion 50 in the main transport direction can be suppressed. Moreover, the contact area of the printing paper 9 with respect to each damping roller 51 can be increased. Therefore, the effect of attenuating the meandering of the printing paper 9 can be further enhanced.

  Further, as can be seen from the graph of FIG. 7, in order to increase the effect of damping the meandering, it is preferable to increase the interval d1 between the plurality of damping rollers 51 in the meandering damping part 50. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the interval d1 between the plurality of attenuation rollers 51 in the meandering attenuation unit 50 may be larger than the interval d2 between the stationary roller 31 and the guide roller 32 in the correction mechanism 30. Further, the interval d1 between the plurality of attenuation rollers 51 in the meandering attenuation unit 50 is more preferably twice or more than the interval d2 between the stationary roller 31 and the guide roller 32 in the correction mechanism 30, and more preferably 3 times or more. .

  Further, as can be seen from the graph of FIG. 7, it is preferable to increase the number of the attenuation rollers 51 in the meandering attenuation portion 50 in order to enhance the effect of attenuating the meandering. Specifically, the number of the attenuation rollers 51 in the meandering attenuation unit 50 may be four or more, for example. Further, the number of the attenuation rollers 51 in the meandering attenuation section 50 is more preferably 5 or more, and further preferably 6 or more.

<2. Second Embodiment>
Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the meandering attenuation unit 50 and the correction mechanism 30 according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the meandering attenuation unit 50 is disposed upstream of the correction mechanism 30 in the transport direction. The meandering attenuating section 50 reciprocates the printing paper 9 fed from the unwinding section 11 and transported in the main transport direction a plurality of times in the sub transport direction, and then switches the transport direction to the main transport direction again to perform printing. The sheet 9 is sent to the correction mechanism 30.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a meandering correction flow applied to the printing paper 9 in the meandering attenuation unit 50 and the correction mechanism 30 of FIG. In this embodiment, the printing paper 9 passes through the meandering attenuation unit 50 on the upstream side in the transport direction from the correction mechanism 30. In the meandering attenuation unit 50, the printing paper 9 reciprocates in the sub-conveying direction while being in contact with the plurality of attenuation rollers 51. Thereby, the meandering of the printing paper 9 is attenuated (step S21).

  The printing paper 9 that has passed through the meandering attenuation unit 50 is sent to the correction mechanism 30. The edge sensor 40 always detects the position in the width direction of the printing paper 9 sent to the correction mechanism 30 (step S22). Further, the correction mechanism 30 swings the guide roller 32 based on the detection result from the edge sensor 40. Thereby, the position in the width direction of the printing paper 9 is corrected (step S23).

  In the present embodiment, when the printing paper 9 has meandering that exceeds the correction capability of the correction mechanism 30, the meander can be attenuated on the upstream side of the correction mechanism 30. Therefore, the correction mechanism 30 can correct the meandering of the printing paper 9 so as to be within the allowable range. For this reason, even when suddenly large meandering occurs due to external vibration or the like, the meandering of the printing paper 9 can be sufficiently reduced by passing through the meandering attenuation unit 50 and the correction mechanism 30.

<3. Modification>
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to said embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the correction mechanism 30 and the meandering attenuation unit 50 according to a modification. In the example of FIG. 10, the positions of the plurality of first damping rollers 51a of the meandering damping unit 50 are fixed at fixed positions. On the other hand, the plurality of second damping rollers 51b are movable in the sub-transport direction. The plurality of second damping rollers 51b are moved integrally in the sub-transport direction by, for example, a common moving mechanism 53. The movement of the second damping roller 51b may be performed using power such as a motor, or may be performed manually by an operator. When the operator manually moves the moving mechanism 53, the moving mechanism 53 may only perform positioning of the second damping roller 51b.

  In this way, the distance in the sub-conveying direction between the first damping roller 51a and the second damping roller 51b can be easily changed. For this reason, the operation | work which sets the space | interval of the some attenuation | damping roller 51 to the distance according to a desired attenuation factor becomes easy.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the meandering attenuation unit 50 is disposed only in one of the correction mechanism 30 on the downstream side in the transport direction and the upstream side in the transport direction. However, the meandering attenuation unit 50 may be arranged on both the downstream side in the transport direction and the upstream side in the transport direction of the correction mechanism 30. Further, a meandering attenuation unit 50 having a plurality of attenuation rollers 51 may be further provided at a position away from the correction mechanism 30.

  In the above-described embodiment, the correction mechanism 30, the edge sensor 40, and the meandering attenuation unit 50 are provided on the upstream side of the plurality of recording heads 21 to 24 in the transport direction. However, the correction mechanism 30, the edge sensor 40, and the meandering attenuation unit 50 may be provided on the downstream side of the plurality of recording heads 21 to 24 in the transport direction.

  In the above embodiment, the four recording heads 21 to 24 are provided in the image recording apparatus 1. However, the number of recording heads in the image recording apparatus 1 may be 1 to 3, or 5 or more. For example, in addition to K, C, M, and Y colors, a recording head that ejects special color inks may be provided.

  The image recording apparatus 1 records an image on a printing paper 9 as a recording medium. However, the image recording apparatus of the present invention may record an image on a sheet-like recording medium other than general paper (for example, a resin film, metal foil, glass, etc.). Further, the image recording apparatus of the present invention may be an apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by a method other than ink jet (for example, electrophotographic method or exposure).

  Moreover, you may combine suitably each element which appeared in said embodiment and modification in the range which does not produce inconsistency.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording device 9 Printing paper 10 Conveying mechanism 11 Unwinding part 12 Conveying roller 13 Winding part 20 Image recording part 21 First recording head 22 Second recording head 23 Third recording head 24 Fourth recording head 30 Correction mechanism 31 Stationary Roller 32 Guide roller 33 Oscillating mechanism 34 Pivot 40 Edge sensor 41 Projector 42 Line sensor 50 Meandering damping part 51 Damping roller 51a First damping roller 51b Second damping roller 53 Moving mechanism 60 Control part 91 Edge

Claims (11)

A transport device for transporting a long strip-shaped recording medium in the longitudinal direction,
A detection unit for detecting a position in the width direction of the recording medium;
A correction mechanism for correcting the position of the recording medium in the width direction based on the detection result of the detection unit;
A meandering attenuation section for attenuating periodic meandering of the recording medium on the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction of the correction mechanism;
With
The meandering attenuation section has a plurality of attenuation rollers that rotate while contacting the recording medium. It is a conveying apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
The meandering attenuating unit is a transporting device disposed downstream of the correction mechanism in the transporting direction. It is a conveying apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
The meandering attenuating unit is a transfer device disposed upstream of the correction mechanism in the transfer direction. It is a conveying apparatus of any one of Claim 1- Claim 3, Comprising:
The transport device in which the plurality of damping rollers are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the transport path of the recording medium. It is a conveying apparatus of any one of Claim 1- Claim 4, Comprising:
A conveying device in which the direction of conveyance of the recording medium is switched by about 180 ° in each of the plurality of damping rollers. It is a conveying apparatus of any one of Claim 1- Claim 5, Comprising:
The correction mechanism is
A stationary roller that rotates at a fixed position;
A guide roller that moves in the width direction;
Have
The conveying device in which the interval between the plurality of attenuation rollers in the meandering attenuation unit is larger than the interval between the stationary roller and the guide roller in the correction mechanism. It is a conveyance apparatus of any one of Claim 1- Claim 6, Comprising:
The meandering attenuating unit is a conveying device having four or more attenuation rollers. It is a conveying apparatus of any one of Claim 1- Claim 7, Comprising:
The plurality of damping rollers are:
One or more first damping rollers arranged in a fixed position;
One or more second damping rollers capable of changing a distance from the first damping roller;
Conveying device including. A transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A recording head for recording an image on the surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying device;
An image recording apparatus comprising: The image recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
The image recording apparatus, wherein the correction mechanism and the meandering attenuation unit are arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction from the recording head. A transport method for transporting a long strip-shaped recording medium in the longitudinal direction,
a) detecting a position in the width direction of the recording medium;
b) correcting the position in the width direction of the recording medium at the correction position based on the detection result of the step a);
c) Attenuating periodic meandering of the recording medium on the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction of the correction position;
With
In the step c), a conveying method in which a plurality of damping rollers are rotated while being in contact with the recording medium.

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